Experimental studies on hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocarcinogenesis. I. Production of hepatic cirrhosis by furfural administration.

Changes of the liver following either single or repeated oral administration of furfural were studied histopathologically. Following single administration, the livers showed scattered eosinophilic globular formation and increased mitotic figures without zonal or massive necrosis. Both changes were most prominent 6 hours after administration, gradually decreasing in number thereafter. In the repeated administration experiment, furfural was mixed with basal diet for 90 or 120 days. The livers on the 90th day showed cirrhotic changes with formation of pseudolobules, widening of Glisson's sheath, and destruction of limiting plates. In the parenchyma bridging necrosis and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes were striking. In the livers on the 120th day, pseudolobule formation was more prominent but parenchymal damage was reduced. No cancerous or precancerous changes were observed. Cirrhotic changes seen in the chronic experiment resembled Nagayo-Miyake's A' type hepatic cirrhosis in man, and the result suggested that furfural-induced hepatic cirrhosis is an appropriate model for studying the interrelation between hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocarcinogenesis.